The transcript below is from the video “Linda Lee Cadwell & Shannon Lee on UR” by urbanrushshawtv4.
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“His whole life, he started this play between East and West. He hated the oppression of little people in which he saw everywhere. In the Japanese occupation of the Boxer Rebellion, the foreign powers going into China, he just thought all of that was wrong.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“To live the life he wanted to live, he had to fight for it. He really had to put it out there and really walk the walk.”
Bruce Lee (Martial Arts Legend):
“I mean, it is easy for me to put on a show and just be cocky and be flooded with a cocky feeling, and then, feel like pretty cool and all that. Oh, I can make all kinds of phony things, you see what I mean, blinded by it. Or I can show you some really fancy movement. But to express one’s self honestly, not lying to oneself, and to express myself honestly, that my friend is…”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Well, I think, everyone probably remembers the first time that they ever saw a Bruce Lee film or television show, and watching the amazing physicality that he embodied. But the more you get to learn about his spirit, and his multi-dimensional personalities, a human being, it’s even more inspirational. And there’s a great film out called, “I am Bruce Lee” that gives you some insight into the man. And we are very happy to be joined by Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee, executive producer, and Linda Lee Cadwell.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“How are you both?”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Hi, guys.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“We’re good. Thank you.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“Hi.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“Now, as executive producer, you’ve seen the movie. Linda, last night there’s a premier here in Vancouver.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“First time, yeah?”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“My very first time.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“Very first time seeing it. What was that like for you?”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“You know, I didn’t know what to expect, because I have seen numerous projects about Bruce, and I must say that this film exceeded my expectations. It was just – it was thrilling. It really let Bruce tell his story. And I’m just thrilled that he can share his philosophy. And – and then, how it impacted all the people who were interviewed.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Did you know the scope of the film, and how it was put together, and that there will be input from all these other people, about the influence that Bruce had on their life?”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“Yes. I knew the general structure of the film. But I thought the interviews of the people were just terrific.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“And – and there are… that’s only a few people. There are thousands and millions of people around the world that have been influenced by Bruce.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“And Shannon, why was it the right time for you to do a film like this? Of course, there’s been countless documentaries down about you father. But why the right timing for you?”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“You know, it’s interesting. When I first started talking to Network Entertainment about this piece, I really was questioning, really another documentary, because you know, there’s been so many. But after seeing their work and knowing the caliber and the quality of the work that they had done in the past, and then their vision for this, I really thought this is perfect. You know, because it really is gonna present the totality of the man, and have people understand who he was, where he came from, what his influence is today. And that is very meaningful to me, especially with all the projects we have going on, and you know, the things that we’re trying to get done.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“I found it did such a… I mean, obviously, because it’s done by you. But what a great focus to learn about his philosophy, understanding where he came from. To come to that point, I had never seen it from that perspective before.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Yeah.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“Was it tough to narrow it down? Or…”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“You know, we’re so lucky, because we have this fabulous interview that my father did with Pierre Berton, Canada’s own.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“Yes.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Good Canadian kid.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“And he himself articulates so much of his own point of view and his own philosophy, and it weaves so beautifully in with all of the influence that we hear and all the personal stories that we hear. But it really painted the picture beautifully, I think.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah. Well, and Linda, you see the evolution. And that’s what I think I attach myself to. And I know, in your own life philosophy, that idea of continual growth. You’re never static. And in every aspect in Bruce’s life, whether it was the martial arts aspect or the spiritual growth or the intellectual growth, he never really stopped growing at all.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“And absolutely. And that was one of his firm beliefs, is that his life was always a process: a process of maturing, a process of learning, never arriving and staying at one point. He was always growing, examining his life, and finding what worked best for him, his own way.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah. Funny though. As a human being though, Shannon, you always had that expectation that at some point, you’ll reach the “Aha!” moment. You know? Like, ‘I got it! I nailed it! Finally!””
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Everybody thinks, “If only I could do this. Then I’ll be there.” But…”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah. But it’s amazing to see someone who everyone understands was brilliant, and yet never being satisfied with where he was; always yearning to do a little bit more.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Always pushing the envelope, always going to the next place.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Have you watched these interviewers before? I mean, not the people, but like the Pierre Berton interview and a lot of that.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Yes. I was 4 when my father passed away. I had seen the Pierre Berton interview, and I really loved it and cherished it. I think, it’s such a masterful interview with him.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“But, you know, my own memories of him are very subtle, sort of glimpses, you know. More about just sort of the feeling of time, and all that sort of thing.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“So that’s really – I’m very lucky and fortunate that all of this material exists. His – even that he left behind so many notes and thoughts on his own process, that I feel like he can…”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“Never mind all his work that we see in film as well.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Right. Yeah.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“But the library full of annotated in – you know, books with notes.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“We talked about the Pierre Berton interview, but we haven’t talked about the people who were interviewed in the documentary.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Yes.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“I mean, we‘re seeing some of the world’s best athletes. I had never coursed being a girl, typical girl. But the connection together to MMA, and – and you know, really how much of a pioneer he was in the sports that we see today. What – why did you choose the people that you did to interview the subjects in the movie?”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Yeah. Well, certainly, with MMA, we really wanted to get that point of view, because you know, there is a correlation between what my father was doing and what’s happening now with the UFC and all those wonderful things. So we wanted people to understand that. And then, also, you know, it’s wonderful that people like Kobe Bryant, and Paul Rodriguez, who’s a professional skateboarder are so influenced, because my father really when he was talking about his philosophy, it was more about the philosophy of movement, more than… and how to live your life. And he applied that to martial arts but it can be applied to anything is what we’re learning.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah. He was a good dancer, yes?”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“Amazing.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“And a handsome devil.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Yes, yes.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“He was. As you know, he was the Cha-Cha champion of Hong Kong.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“And he carried in his wallet a little notecard that had listed 108 different Cha-cha steps.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“You’re kidding me? And break it down. I mean, the whole thing is so beautiful. But, you know, I can’t help because there’s a very similar situation in my family. I was talking to you guys about it before. My father passed away the same year. I was the same age as Shannon was. And has it been a struggle for you, Lin, I mean, over the years? Because people, obviously, want to talk about this man, this legend, this brilliant human being.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“You know, it’s been an evolution, I must say, because when Bruce died in 1973, his latest film, the Enter the Dragon had not even been released. So he was a big star in Hong Kong, but the world didn’t know about him. And then, when the movie was released and it was very well received and popular, none of us, nobody knew that it was going to still be alive almost 40 years later.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“No kidding. And in the cult film book that, you know, we see Bruce’s movies which…”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“Right.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“Right. And so, the evolution of people getting to know Bruce has been the most interesting thing over all these decades. Because at first, people would just think of him as a martial artist, or an actor, or even just a guy who had stunt doubles and everything.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Right.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“They didn’t know it was the real thing, you know? And so, the unfolding of his entire personality, his depth, has been very rewarding to us, and this film really exhibits that.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“And the other thing is, being that it’s done by the family, you address the mystery of his death, put it to rest, this is what happened. There you go. And people can watch the movie to hear it straight from the family.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“Yes.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“Which I think is very nice.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“That’s right.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“You guys, thank you so much for joining us.”
Linda Lee Cadwell (Widow of Bruce Lee):
“Thank you.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Thank you.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“And congratulations on all the great work that you do, the Bruce Lee Foundation, of course, carries on his philosophy and his legacy, working on a museum right now? And that’s…”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“We are, yes. The Bruce Lee Action Museum in the Seattle, Washington area.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“Really close to us.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Yeah.”
Shannon Lee (Executive Producer and Daughter of Bruce Lee):
“Yeah.”
Fiona Forbes (Urban Rush Host):
“So people can visit. You have to see this at this documentary. It is an absolutely amazing tribute to Bruce Lee. It’s called, “I am Bruce Lee” and it will screen at Cineplex theaters, March 8th and 17th right across Canada. If you want to check it out, you can also go to the website to find out more information about where the film will screen near you.”
Michael Eckford (Urban Rush Host):
“Very nice. We’re going to take a break.”
Train Hard, Fight Easy!
Train Hard, Fight Easy!
